Internal drives go inside your computer and run your operating system and programs. External drives plug into a USB port and can move between different computers. If you need speed for gaming or video editing, get an internal drive. If you need to move files between computers or create backups, get an external drive.
Most people need both types. A 500GB internal solid state drive (SSD) for Windows and your programs costs $60 to $120. Add a 2TB external drive for backups at $50 to $80. That setup handles everything without giving up speed or portability.
Internal drives reach speeds up to 7,000 MB/s because they connect straight to your motherboard. External drives max out around 550 MB/s through USB cables. That speed difference matters when you're loading games or editing 4K video. It doesn't matter much when you're just storing photos or documents.
Quick Decision Guide
Choose internal when: You're installing Windows, running games, or editing video
Choose external when: You need backups, move files between computers, or can't open your computer case
Internal Drive Speed and Performance
Internal drives connect straight to your motherboard through SATA or NVMe slots. This direct connection gives you much faster speeds than external drives that have to go through USB cables.
A SATA SSD reaches 550 MB/s. That's fast enough to load Windows in about 10 seconds and open programs almost right away. NVMe drives hit 3,500 MB/s to 7,000 MB/s, cutting game load times in half compared to SATA. Most external drives over USB 3.0 only manage 150 MB/s. That's why serious gamers and video editors stick with internal storage.
Speed Comparison by Drive Type
- SATA HDDs: 80-160 MB/s (budget option, uses spinning disks)
- SATA SSDs: 500-550 MB/s (mainstream choice, no moving parts)
- NVMe SSDs: 3,500-7,000 MB/s (best performance, connects through PCIe)
Use our storage speed comparison tool to see how these different drive types compare in real use.
Yes, it's true. An internal NVMe SSD connects through PCIe lanes that can handle 32 GB/s of data. But when you put that same drive in an external case, all that data has to squeeze through a USB cable that maxes out at 1.25 GB/s. The external case also needs a bridge chip to translate between the drive's language and USB, which adds delays. That's why a Samsung 980 Pro hits 3,500 MB/s inside your PC but only 550 MB/s in an external enclosure. The drive didn't change. The connection became the bottleneck.
Installing Internal Drives
To install an internal drive, you need to open your computer case, find an empty drive bay or M.2 slot, and plug in the data and power cables. Desktop PCs make this easy and the job takes about 10 minutes. Laptops are harder because you often need to remove the whole bottom panel and sometimes the battery to reach the drive slot.
External Drive Speeds and Portability
External drives plug into USB, Thunderbolt, or USB-C ports. You can unplug them and move them between computers in seconds. This makes them perfect for transferring files or keeping backups in a separate location.
What Speed to Expect
Your USB port controls the speed you get. USB 2.0 only hits 35 MB/s, which takes 8 minutes to copy a 4GB movie. USB 3.0 reaches 150 to 400 MB/s in real use, copying that same movie in under a minute. USB 3.2 and Thunderbolt 3 can match internal SATA speeds at 550 MB/s, but only if you buy an external SSD.
Most cheap external drives use slow spinning hard disk drives (HDDs) that top out at 120 MB/s no matter what cable you use. The drive itself becomes the limit, not the USB port.
High-Speed External Drives
External SSDs with USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt reach 1,000 to 2,000 MB/s. That's fast enough to edit 4K video right from the drive without copying files to your computer first.
When Portability Matters
External drives work best when you use more than one computer. Moving 500GB of project files between home and work takes 10 minutes with an external SSD. Uploading the same files to cloud storage takes hours. Many office computers don't let you install internal drives, so external drives become your only choice for extra storage.
Price Differences
A Crucial MX500 2TB internal SSD costs $100 to $150. The same storage space in a Samsung T7 external SSD runs $150 to $200. You pay 20% to 30% more for the portable version. External hard drives beat both on price. A WD Elements 4TB external HDD costs under $100. That's a great deal for backups and storing movies.
Hidden Costs to Consider
Internal drives sometimes need SATA cables that cost $5 to $10. If you want to build your own external drive, the enclosure costs $20 to $50. Good USB-C or Thunderbolt cables run $20 to $40. Rugged cases that protect against drops add another $30 to $50.
Gaming and Video Editing
Games load faster from internal drives. Cyberpunk 2077 loads in 8 seconds from an internal NVMe drive but takes 45 seconds from a USB 3.0 external hard drive. Internal NVMe cuts load times by 50% to 70% and stops textures from popping in late. Use external drives for older games you rarely play or for backing up your game library.
Warning
Never run games from a USB 2.0 external drive. You'll get constant stuttering and textures that load too slowly. Always use USB 3.0 or faster.
Video Editing Storage Needs
Video editors need both drive types. Raw 4K footage fills up terabytes fast, so you want a big internal drive for projects you're working on right now. External drives work better for finished projects and for backing up footage on location during shoots. Most professionals use a fast internal NVMe for active editing and cheaper external hard drives for long-term storage.
Backing Up Your Files
The 3-2-1 backup rule says to keep three copies of important files on two different types of storage, with one copy stored somewhere else. External drives handle that off-site copy perfectly. You can keep one at a friend's house or in a safe deposit box. Backup software can run automatically whenever you plug in the external drive.
How Long Drives Last
Internal drives usually last longer because your computer case keeps them cool with fans. External drives sit in enclosed cases that trap heat. Backblaze data shows drives running all day every day average 4 to 6 years. Home users who only run drives a few hours each day often get 8 to 10 years from the same drive.
Why External Drives Fail More Often
External drives break more often because they have more parts that can fail. The USB port wears out, cables break, and the chip that converts signals can die. Drops kill external drives fast. Even a 3-foot (1-meter) fall onto carpet can wreck a spinning hard drive.
Protect Your Drives
- Keep drives below 113°F (45°C) to prevent heat damage
- Use surge protectors to guard against power spikes
- Always safely eject external drives before unplugging them
- Store external drives in padded cases when traveling
What to Buy
Get a 500GB to 1TB NVMe internal drive for your main system. The Samsung 980 Pro, WD Black SN850X, and Crucial P3 Plus all work well and cost $80 to $140. If you have room and budget, add a 2TB SATA SSD for extra storage at $100 to $150.
Best Setup for Most People
A 1TB NVMe internal drive for Windows and programs ($80 to $140) plus a 4TB external hard drive for backups ($80 to $100). Total cost under $250.
Recommended External Drives
The Samsung T7 and SanDisk Extreme SSDs give you fast portable speeds. WD Elements and Seagate Backup Plus cost less and work great for backups. Avoid unknown brands. Saving $10 to $20 isn't worth losing your files when a cheap drive fails.
Making Your Choice
Get an internal drive if you're installing Windows, running games, or editing video. Choose an NVMe drive for the fastest speeds or a SATA SSD if you want to save $20 to $40.
Get an external drive if you move files between computers each week, can't open your computer case, need off-site backups, or want extra storage without installing anything. External SSDs work better if you use the drive every day. External hard drives cost less and work great for backups and long-term file storage.
Most people should buy both an internal and external drive. A 500GB to 1TB internal NVMe for Windows and programs costs $60 to $120. A 2TB to 4TB external hard drive for backups costs $50 to $100. That covers everything for under $200.